Of course, given the way Okposo’s regular center, Casey Mittelstadt, has been performing – the rookie has compiled just one goal and two points in the last 16 games – Housley is probably doing him a favor.

“I wouldn’t read too much into the lines,” Housley said of Okposo, who has compiled five goals and 15 points in 39 games. “We’re just trying to create balance. I think Larry’s played terrific hockey.

“I just want (Okposo) to get back to focus about his power forward game and going to the net hard, having guys hang on his back. When he does that, he’s really, really effective.”

Okposo wasn’t available to talk following Sunday’s session inside HarborCenter.

Larsson has been playing arguably his best hockey since dislocating his elbow and wrist two years ago. The Swede scored short-handed in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, his second goal in four games.

Perhaps Larsson will help ignite Okposo. Thompson and Evan Rodrigues, who replaced Okposo beside Mittelstadt and Conor Sheary, started generating more offense when they joined Larsson.

“His play’s been really great,” Housley said of Larsson. “A lot of the things he does you don’t see on the scoreboard.”

Okposo hasn’t scored since Nov. 13, when his second-period goal held up as the winner in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

At that point, 18 games into the season, Okposo was scoring at a 23-goal, 46-point pace over a full year, numbers in line with his career averages.

Six weeks ago, it appeared Okposo’s full summer of work was paying off. But these days, his seven-year, $42 million contract – he still has four and a half seasons left – ranks among the league’s worst.

Buying out Okposo following the season would leave his dead money – hits of up to $5 million – on the salary cap until 2026-27, according to capfriendly.com.

So the Sabres better hope Okposo starts showcasing some of his old scoring prowess.

Housley said the affable Okposo, one of his alternate captains, has handled his struggles well.

“He’s been really providing us some terrific leadership within our locker room, says a lot of the right things and he gives a lot of feedback to our younger players,” Housley said. “He represents everything we want as a Buffalo Sabre.”

Sure, that still helps the Sabres, but how can Okposo bust out of his marathon slump?

“When you go through a difficult time, you just got to fight your way through it,” Housley said. “There’s no easy recipe for it – it’s keep it simple, go to the net hard, things are going to happen.”